GALLERY

Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Last Sunday, Steve and I ventured over the Pennines once again to put on a game for the Lance & Longbow Society at the Towton Commemoration event. We reprised the Hexham game we had run at York and again invited members of the public to join in. We were in the barn along with several traders and a number of battlefield societies. Visitors could chat to the re-enactors in their camp or go on one of the guided battlefield walks.

Here are a few photographs of the re-enactors and their equipment

It was cold and damp, but the living history enthusiasts stayed cheerful and did their best to inform the visitors.

In the barn I found the Northampton Battlefield Trust's stand very informative

For our part we chatted to quite a few of the visiting public, explaining about wargaming and the battle we were demonstrating. Two people took us up on our offer of joining in and helped the Yorkists prevail (again!). We played the game three times, with the Yorkists winning two outright within the allotted hour. The third game was deemed a Lancastrian 'moral victory' as they still had one unit left on the hill when time ran out. Many thanks to Bob for helping us on the stand and being such an enthusiastic supporter of the Yorkist cause!

Wednesday, 18 March 2015

Looking back it is six months or more since the 15mm Napoleonic figures were on the table; their last outing was for the Kukrowitz game at the end of August so a Shako scenario was long overdue. I decided on Hagelsberg (or Hagelberg) which involved a force from the Magdeburg garrison under General Girard and

three brigades of Prussians under GM Puttlitz. Girard had been ordered by Napoleon to particiapate in a joint advance on Berlin with Davout (from Hamburg) and Oudinot (from Dresden). Oudinot's advance had been stopped at Gross Beeren and now Girard was on his own and having to cope with marauding Cossacks into the bargain. Bulow eventually persuaded Bernadotte to allow an attack and the Prussians marched towards the French position. This is the map for my scenario based on the battle.

Girard holds the hill. He has two brigades; Dupont (6 line battalions, foot battery) holds Hagelsberg and the right of the hill; Rivaud (5 battalions, a composite light cavalry 'regiment' and a battery) the left. There is a third foot battery which can be placed at Girard's discretion. His objective is to hold his position and maintain control of Klein Glein, which ensures his lines of communication back to Magdeburg.

Puttlitz has 14 battalions in two brigades under Hirschfeldt and Borstell (7 battalions in each) and a brigade of light cavalry (Bismarck) with two landwehr regiments and one line regiment. He also has two batteries of foot artillery. The Prussians deployed their infantry in the woods where they got some protection from the French artillery. Borstell on the left and Hirschfeldt the right. Bismarck was in reserve in the open ground between the two woods as were the artillery. All the infantry brigades, Prussian and French,include one skirmisher stand.

Supported by their artillery, the Prussian infantry left the woods, formed up and advanced towards the French position. Puttlitz intended to pass Bismarck's cavalry behind Hirschfeldt's infantry once the latter had moved far enough forward as there was more open ground on that flank. Even though the Prussian guns were firing at long range Rivaud's front line soon began to suffer casualties. However, as Hirschfeldt's men grew nearer to the ridge the French guns began their execution. Particularly badly hit were a battalion of Frei Korps. They were far happier menacing lines of communication rather than standing in line of battle. Once the French changed to canister rounds and losses increased, the men could take no more; they broke and ran for the trees.To their left the Pomeranian Militia ignored these events and plodded on before halting, firing a volley and then charging their opponents. The French line absorbed the shock and then repulsed this first attack. Undaunted, the supporting militia also attacked,only to be stopped in their tracks by a devastating volley.

On the left, Borstell also moved forward. He edged to the lef to try and outflank the defenders, but Dupont responded by extending his line. Once again the French artillery took a toll on the attackers. Two Silesain line battalions charged into contact, but weakened by their losses they could not force their way over the wall held by the French defenders. Falling back, they began exchanging volleys with the French, but could not subdue the fire of the tenacious defenders. Borstell next sent a column of battalions against the angle of the wall; but although the landwehr charged home they were unable to dislodge the defenders. The brigade fell back to reorganise ready for a second attack.

Bismarck had now reached the right of the Prussian line, but he was too late to prevent a successfult French cavalry attack on Hirschfeldt's infantry. One battalion of the 4th Reserve Infantry regiment strayed too far from its supports and before the inexperienced recruits could form square the French cavalry were on them. Inevitably losses were heavy and as the survivors fled for the trees the experienced French cavalry officers held their men in check and ordered the regiment to fall back to reform. They had seen the approaching Prussian cavalry and did not want to be attacked by superior numbers whilst still disorganised.

The Prussian hussar regiment had taken some casualties from the French artillery as they moved to the flank, so Bismarck put his two Landwehr regiments in the van. As they moved forward to take on the French cavalry the left hand unit strayed into musketry range of the French infantry. Their inexperience cost them dear as two well-directed volleys emptied many saddles. The remaining cavalry charged forward and were counter-charged by the French. In a brief, brutal melee the French prevailed and the remaining Landwehr cavalry fell back.

Both Hirschfeldt and Borstell sent their men forward again. Once more the Prussians gallantly charged home through the French volleys, but once again they could not dislodge the defenders from their position. The battered battalions fell back to recover, but with losses of 50% the survivors were not too keen to ry for a third time and so Puttlitz had to accept defeat and leave the field to the French.

I made a couple of errors compiling this scenario, the principal one being to make the defence too strong. In retrospect 9 battalions against 14 Prussian battalions would have provided a better game, stretching the defence and making it more difficult to provide support for the front line. Also, the original map shows the intervention of some Cossack units around Klein Glein. Although the Cossacks may not be the most lethal attackers, they could have made the French 'look over their shoulders' and again stretch the defence. Particularly, they could occupy the French cavalry and enable Bismarck to pin some of the French defence in square and so support the infantry attack.

Thursday, 5 March 2015

The title says it all, this week's game is set in the Sudan, part of the continuing story of C V Firth-Newsome's adventures in the Queen's service. The brigadier had received reports that the Dervish forces were gathering at Wadi el Dhan, a village up river from Khartoum. Firth-Newsome was to command one of British infantry units in force which comprised two brigades of Egyptian and Sudanese troops, plus two brigades of British infantry. All the brigades had artillery or machine guns attached and there was a unit of lancers as a reserve. The whole force was commanded by Major Reginald 'Bulldog' Drummond, an experienced officer from India.

Anticipating that the Dervishes would have spies watching the British camp a great show was made of undertaking repairs to the steamer Tamei; which ad been involved in many of the previous expeditions. Under the cover of darkness, Drummond assembled his force and led them on a flank march through the desert.

Two days later the Imperial forces approached Wadi el Dhan at dawn, hoping to surprise the Dervish forces and trap them against the river. Drummond placed his native troops on the flanks, and ordered them to push their cavalry forward to try and flush out any concealed enemy units. The British troops were in the centre and Firth-Newsome found himself in the same brigade as Bolitho and his Bluejackets. Drummond planned to attack on the flanks to draw the enemy out and then deliver the decisive attack with his best troops straight at Wadi el Dhan, breaking the enemy resistance and dispersing their forces.

A view from the Dervish left flank. The white squares denote possible Dervish units, (approx 1/3 were blanks !!)

On the Imperial right the Egyptian cavalry moved forward very swiftly, leaving their infantry supports some way behind, this was to prove their undoing. From behind some dunes appeared a unit of Arab cavalry, eager to prove themselves the Egyptians charged forward, the Arabs responded in kind. The two bodies of horse came together and the melee was fairly well balanced; until a second unit of Arab mounted troops appeared and joined in. Now the Egyptians were struggling and soon the battered survivors were racing for their own lines,pursued by the jubilant Arab horsemen.

The Egyptian commander of the right wing brigade was unprepared for this reverse. Fortunately, some of the infantry could shelter in rough ground, but the machine gun was too far back,still limbered and unable to fire in support of the infantry. One Egyptian unit formed square and fired in support of their colleagues who had decided to remain in line and trust in their fire power. The Arab horse rushed headlong into this hail of bullets and suffered heavy casualties, forcing them to fall back to reform. But yet more mounted troops could be seen approaching the Imperial right flank, threatening to outflank the British troops in the centre and Drummond decided that he needed to take matters in hand and led his reserve cavalry over to shore up the Egyptians.

The Egyptian cavalry on the left flank had also discovered enemy troops, this time infantry,who were sniping at them from some rough ground. The Egyptian commander decided to dismount his men into a skirmish line and drive off the enemy with rifle fire, not the best option. The Dervish commander saw his chance and ordered his troops to charge. Just in time, the Egyptian officer saw his peril and ordered his men to re-mount and charge the enemy. It was not an ordered charge, but it did enough to blunt the Dervish attack. After further rounds of melee the cavalry prevailed and the Dervish infantry routed..

The next step was to secure the farm buildings (seen top centre in the photo at top of the post), from which they could support the attack by the British infantry on Wadi el Dahn.

In the centre, the two British brigades began their advance, but the one on the right (Maxwell's), soon encountered enemy forces. A unit of Dervish infantry charged out of some scrub and ignoring the volley from the British line surged forward. Their fanaticism drove the line back, inflicting heavy casualties, but, heeding the barked orders of their NCO's the khaki clad infantry stood firm. Eventually, the dervish fell back, sent on their way by a ragged cheer and a volley.

Firth-Newsome was in the left hand brigade and as they advanced the leading unit came under artillery fire from Wadi el Dahn. The gunners had the range to a 'T' and soon there was a trail of dead and wounded behind the leading unit. Suddenly, a second Dervish gun opened fire from the farm buildings and in no time the leading unit was so badly damaged that it had to fall back, taking no further part in the action. Stuart, the commander of the brigade, decided that before an attack on Wadi el Dahn, it was essential to capture the farm and he deployed to face the threat from there. Firth-Newsome and Bolitho, supported by their artillery opened fire on the farm. At first, there seemed to be no effect, but after several rounds of 'rapid fire' the enemy artillery fire slackened and then ceased. This was just as well, the men's ammunition was almost exhausted and fresh supplies needed to be brought forward by mule.

The left hand Egyptian brigade now approached the farm, but came under rifle fire from its defenders. The Egyptians replied in kind and were joined by the men of Stuart's brigade once they had been resupplied with bullets. No force could endure such a torrent of fire and before long, the survivors ran for the 'safety' of Wadi El Dahn, leaving the Egyptians free to advance and occupy the position.

Meanwhile, Maxwell's brigade recommenced its advance, only to be charged again, this time by mounted troops. The leading unit formed square and opened a rapid fire on their attackers but failed to stop them. Already weakened by the earlier infantry attack the British square broke and routed, not the finest hour for the British arms.

Maxwell's supporting units held their ground and drove off the Dervish camel troops with rifle volleys. But where was the British commander whilst his infantry were fighting for their lives?

Drummond was with his cavalry, driving off the threat to his right flank. The lancers charged forward against the enemy camel troops and a prolonged melee ensued. Determined to be part of the action, 'Bulldog' joined the fray, cutting this way and that, accounting for three of the enemy. Suddenly, the fight seemed to go out of the Arabs and they galloped off, among the dead was their leader and 'Bulldog' was happy to receive the leader's helmet as a trophy. He was not destined to enjoy his success for long With the enemy troops out of the way, a third Dervish gun opened fire, enfilading the British cavalry. Amongst the first casualties was Drummond. As more men fell, the lancers decided that it would be best to fall back to reform and it was left to the Egyptian infantry to subdue the Dervish artillery.

'Bulldog' leads the way

The battle now became three separate actions; on the Imperial left the Egyptian brigade,plus Stuart's brigade were advancing from the farm towards Wadi el Dahn. In the centre, Maxwell's brigade was struggling to move forward against successive Dervish attacks. Each one was defeated, but each exacted a toll and the brigade was finished as a fighting force for this battle. Fighting was dying down on the right as what remained of the Dervish force fell back to the village and the Egyptians reformed and then followed them.

The Egyptian cavalry on the Imperial left had by now scouted the approaches to the village and reported the area clear of the enemy. They were therefore sent to help Maxwell. As the Egyptian infantry neared the village they were charged by a unit of Dervishes. The melee swayed one way and then the other and a second unit of Egyptians moved forward in support. This was countered by a second unit of Dervishes charging out of the town. This second Dervish attack was roundly defeated but the first Egyptian unit routed and the victors flowed forward to take on Firth-Newsome's unit. The order was given, 'Rapid Fire'. In moments the Dervish infantry were hit by a hail of bullets and stopped in their tracks. After some hesitation, the survivors turned and ran back towards the village.

British fire power prevails

Yet another Dervish unit charged out of the village,catching the Egyptians unprepared. Their scattered volley did nothing to deter their enemies and the dervish charge thudded home. In moments the Egyptian line dissolved, all order was lost and the carnage was dreadful. After a brief pause the Dervishes surged towards Firth-Newsome's unit. Once again the order was given 'Rapid Fire'; the men fired with a desperate energy as the enemy came closer,seemingly unstoppable. Then the Dervish standard bearer went down. As the flag fell, so did the spirits of the attackers. At a hundred yards their pace slowed, as more men went down, they wavered and then suddenly the attack was over. The ground in front of the British infantry was strewn with dead and dying Dervish warriors. This proved to be the last attack. As Firth-Newsome's men savoured the fact that they had survived another battle,a cheer came from the village. Bolitho's bluejackets had taken the walls and raised the Union Jack. The remnants of the Dervish force melted away into the desert and the Imperial troops drained by battle, did what they could for their wounded comrades. Drummond was buried
on a small hill overlooking the scene of his last battle; a simple cross denoting his final resting place. Tamei came up river to take the wounded back to Khartoum whilst the remainder of the Imperial force marched back along the banks of the Nile.

The game took two sessions (approx 7 hours) to play, and used the 'Battles for Empire' rules. We used the 2nd edition which gave the units 8 strength points, but each hit counts, removing one of the advantages enjoyed by the Imperial troops. The unit markers (including 'blinds') made it more of a challenge and in the end the game was very evenly balanced. Although the Dervish force was beaten the Imperials lost over half their units, including two thirds of their British troops.

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About Me

I have been wargaming on and off for the best part of fifty years. Starting, as many of my generation did, with the range of airfix plastic figures. My first and abiding interest has been the Napoleonic period, which at first meant that figure conversion was the only option; and very messy it was too. In later years my interests have expanded to include periods from the 12th to 19th centuries, with a particular interest in eastern Europe. I do not belong to a club, but I have a regular opponent and we try and meet each week.